British Airways’ cadet training programme is in its third successful year and with just a week to go until applications close, the airline is appealing for more female applicants.

The airline’s Future Pilot Programme, an 18-month pilot training course, has proved extremely popular and has attracted around 5,000 applicants for less than one hundred places in its first two years.

The programme helps applicants to gain a place at an approved flight training school, with successful candidates landing a job as a British Airways pilot.

The top-flight cadets will start their training at one of three British Airways approved flight training schools in Oxford, Southampton and Jerez in Spain. During their training, students complete their ground theory training, cockpit instrument rating and flight training, flying light aircraft in Spain, New Zealand or Arizona in the US.

The final two months of the programme is completed on British Airways’multi-million pound simulators at the airline’s flight training centre near Heathrow, where the cadets will learn to achieve and maintain British Airways’ high standards.

British Airways’ director of flight operations, Captain Stephen Riley,said: “This is an exciting period for our Future Pilot Programme initiative. We are taking applications for the third year running and I’m proud to say our first ever cadets are also in the final stages of their course.”

“Even though we have more female pilots than any other UK carrier, the number doesn’t nearly represent the general population, and I actively encourage any women considering a career in flying to apply.“

Competition is stiff, but for those who are successful, they will ultimately join our team of over 3,600 pilots in a rewarding and exhilarating career. Sisters Aoife Duggan (27) and Cliodhna Duggan (35) from Dublin, are both British Airways pilots.

Aoife said: “It was my sister that inspired me to go into the industry, buying me flying lessons for my 18th birthday and I’ve never looked back. I encourage anyone with an interest in flying to go for it and apply.”

Cliodhna said: “Being a pilot is a really great career, I’ve been doing it for 13 years and I love the variety of the job. Going to work involves flying above the clouds, seeing the sun rise in spectacular locations, and having the opportunity to see the world. It’s also a very flexible industry with varied working hours, to accommodate and fit around your lifestyle.”